While his father King Charles III (77) and his brother Prince William (44) attended their own appointments this Thursday, Prince Harry (41) made a stop in Birmingham. The Duke of Sussex visited the local children's hospital and honored the 20th anniversary of the WellChild nursing program, of which he has been patron for 18 years, as reported by the British "Daily Mail" among others.
The program brings specialized nurses together with seriously and chronically ill children. They support young patients with complex illnesses in leaving the clinic and managing the transition to life at home.
Encounters at the Bedside
During his tour of the wards, Harry sought conversations with several patients. He first shook hands with twelve-year-old Bilal Mirza, then sat down with him. The boy had been connected to a ventilator after pneumonia caused one of his lungs to lose function. He can now communicate again through a tracheostomy and speaking valve.
The royal also spoke with Alec Hill, also twelve years old, alongside his mother Kelly and father Stuart Hill. The twelve-year-old suffers from a rare chromosomal disorder and a rare immune system disease. As a result of brain damage, he uses a wheelchair. As a third young patient, Harry met Wyatt Makwana, also twelve years old, who was born with a diaphragmatic hernia. He was accompanied by his father Brian Makwana.
Solo Trip Without Meghan and the Children
Harry had already arrived in London on Monday. Duchess Meghan (44) and their children Archie and Lilibet stayed away for now due to security concerns. His five-day stay, which now took him to Birmingham, kicks off the one-year countdown to the next Invictus Games, which will take place in the English city starting July 10, 2027.
Defeat in Court
The trip is overshadowed by a legal defeat. On Tuesday, a judge dismissed Harry's lawsuit against the "Daily Mail", the "Mail on Sunday", and their online presence. In addition to the Duke of Sussex, the plaintiffs included actress Liz Hurley (61), music megastar Elton John (79), and his husband David Furnish (63).
According to a British media report, Prince Harry and his co-plaintiffs could now face extraordinary costs. They must expect legal costs of up to 50 million pounds, writes the British "Guardian". Currently, this would correspond to costs of more than 58.5 million euros. The publisher Associated Newspapers Limited has indicated that it wants to be reimbursed for corresponding expenses.
Charles and William in Other Places
While Harry was out and about in Birmingham, King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited the London Zoo on Thursday. Prince William, meanwhile, appeared at an appointment in Hastings in southern England, where he met with local fishermen, among others.
